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ellie31

Living room issues

8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago

I have tried rearranging my living room, but can’t seem to make it work. The room has two entrances which make it difficult as well as a bar from the kitchen that hangs over. Please tell me what you think of this arrangement.





Comments (168)

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I’m not interested in flipping the sofa as I may put a tv above the cabinet. The globe was used in the inspiration picture.

    Feel like I made a big mistake !

  • 8 years ago

    Ok. The reason they don’t work is because both the plant and the globe are too short. The plant would need to be taller and with a more substantial pot. Perhaps if the globe were on some sort of stand, that would be an improvement. You need some height and heft on either side of the piano.

  • 8 years ago

    No mistake - moving the piano to a suitable interior wall with plenty of room around it is the right way to go.

  • 8 years ago

    How about putting the plant on a pedestal?

  • 8 years ago

    And try angling your parsons desk chair in the corner in place of the globe.

  • 8 years ago

    It’s not an interior wall.... I think even a pedestal won’t make the plant tall enough.

  • 8 years ago

    Well then, get a plant that would be tall enough on a pedestal. Doesn’t necessarily have to be that plant.

  • 8 years ago

    I had tried a tall tree and that just made the whole corner appear dark.

  • 8 years ago

    I have to go back to my previous post where I said your biggest problem is the brown chair. I’m sure it’s comfortable, but not because the back of it slants so far behind it. I don’t think the slant adds anything to the comfort of the chair. I would try to see what you can sell it for and replace it with another comfortable chair that fits the room.

  • 8 years ago

    I think you need more light back there. That’s why it always looks dark to you. Maybe a pretty lamp on the piano rather than that piano lamp.

  • 8 years ago

    The piano is so tall I can’t imagine putting a lamp on it. My biggest issue right now is figuring out what to put above the piano and beside it. As far as the brown chair I ended up putting it on the other side of the sofa facing the piano.

  • 8 years ago

    Try a planter that's taller. Not necessarily this style but something that will raise the plant higher so it fills in more of the corner.

    You could add a floor lamp to the other side of the piano. Once you add your framed prints, I think you'll find that's all you need.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Do you think the objects on either side of the piano should be taller than it?

    i was looking at the tripod lamps just now. Not sure what kind of lamp,would work next to it.

    Also I’m wondering if a tall ficus would be better, although it may make the corner too dark.

  • 8 years ago

    For starters, lift the cover on the keys so it breaks up the blobiness of the piano. I still think you can have a short, bright lamp on the piano. I’m still in favor of a pedestal and plant and trying the chair where the globe is. Glad you moved the chair. You definitely need light around the piano. Even a floor lamp. next to it. Otherwise, no matter what you put there, it’s still going to be dark.

  • 8 years ago

    Looks like I was typing while you were posting.

  • 8 years ago

    The chair where the globe is? Way too big and too dark.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    The desk chair? I was referring to the paisley chair.

  • 8 years ago

    Oh hahaha

  • 8 years ago

    Just tried it too short and the corner def needs light

  • 8 years ago

    How about a tripod floor lamp as it has some visual weight.

  • 8 years ago

    If you scroll up that’s exactly what I was thinking too. Most are only 60 inches not sure if that would work as the piano is 53 1/2 inches tall. Otherwise they do have an adjustable one.

  • 8 years ago

    Can you put the floor lamp on that side of the room?

    Another thought. Over the years I've used uplights in several places in my living rooms. They're great for tucking behind something and washing the wall with light from floor to ceiling. I have a pair of plain white ones that I had tucked behind a set of tall stereo speakers in the corner of my previous living room. Here you seen one tucked behind a big plant pot. They're inexpensive, and you don't need the fancy remote control. I really liked the version Groveraxle did with the larger plant in your room, and an uplight behind it would solve the light problem and give a great look to the plant too.



    I think that would look great in one or both of your corners. At one point I had one on top of my china cabinet, pointing up and washing across the ceiling. They're very versatile but unobtrusive. https://www.lampsplus.ca/products/up-lights-@-clip-lights/

  • 8 years ago

    On what side of the room? I was thinking next to the piano in the corner.

    Thanks for the idea about the uplight. Problem is even during the day that corner is very dark and putting a dark green plant in there makes it darker. I’m not going to want to put a light on all day.

  • 8 years ago

    I don't know how tall your piano is. I have a similar piano in my LR and have used a lamp on it. My piano is 46" tall and the lamp I have used on it is 22" to the top of the finial. Here is an OLD picture from a time when I has a lamp there. Please ignore the other random things I also had on the piano at the time.

  • 8 years ago

    Mine is 53 1/2 tall. I like where your piano is, makes me think maybe I should have kept mine where it was. Very hard to decorate around it when it’s on the center of the wall.

  • 8 years ago

    I still think you could use a lamp on your piano if it's no taller than 20". My piano is located where it is because there really is not other good place for it.

    After looking at your pictures and reading many of the replies you've received, I wonder if it would work to move the sofa to where the black cabinet is, move the black cabinet to where the piano was and then use the leather chair in the window. Just a thought.

  • 8 years ago

    Try the floor lamp you already have just for size.

  • 8 years ago

    If that isn't an interior wall, then I retreat to my second placement suggestion which was to place it opposite the sofa on that interior wall! Are you still planning to have TV here?

  • 8 years ago

    I would suggest you remove the wall art from the end wall of the room, except for the large square mirror. Then, I would suggest you center the sofa under this mirror. If you have some low tables that could hold relatively small plants, I would suggest you place a plant table or two in front of the large windows. Perhaps you could add two or three magazines or books to the tables to create an atmosphere for reading. I would suggest you place the large chair against the interior wall, but have it angled so that it faces the sofa somewhat. You have a lot of lovely furnishings in this room, but they need to be edited and perhaps relocated to other parts of the house. I especially would find another location for the plaid piece with the large star on it as it does not fit with the more formal and delicate style of the other items. I do love the white French provincial desk, and perhaps you can move it to another part of this room.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Updated livingroom!! Thank you everyone for all your help. Here it is today. Now I just need a little help with what to put around the tv....and the dog is still photo bombing!

  • 8 years ago

    The room looks so much better! Removing some of the wall accessories and furniture gives much needed visual breaks and gives the eye a place to rest. It actually makes it easier to notice what's in the room.

  • 8 years ago

    I really like it! The crib springs above the desk are perfect, and the decluttering has created a calm and beautiful space. Thank you for sharing!

  • 8 years ago

    P.S. Your doggie is still the perfect finishing touch!

  • 8 years ago

    Looks good. The only problem I see is that no one wants to sit in that dining chair to watch TV. I'd find a smallish armchair for that spot.


  • 8 years ago

    Thanks, it’s actually just an extra chair I have stuck in there for now.

  • 8 years ago

    You’ve done a great job. Doggie seems happy with it. My only suggestion would be, in place of the globe, I’d place a tall plant as in one of the photos above.

  • 8 years ago

    The globe was a special gift and unfortunately I have no other place for it.

  • 8 years ago

    Leather chair is too big for there, love my squiggles!! The drapes I think are perfect. I love the room, just looking for suggestions around the tv.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Is it possible to get a straight on shot of the TV wall so we can see the whole thing? We can't see what's to the left of it or how much space you have there. Try shooting it from the same angle as your second photo in your original post and as far back as you can get.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    This is as far back as I can get. To the left is a pass through.

  • 8 years ago

    I love your tribal art with your tribal-looking pillow. A little rearrangement would make it balance better. You don't need to add anything, but you might center this whole arrangement--console, tv, art, and ottoman--between the door and the kitchen pass through. If the TV is too far to the left for comfortable viewing, just flip it whole arrangement so ottoman and art are on the left, TV on the right.


  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I’m thinking the picture just doesn’t work. I will have to find another place for it. This seems simpler....the picture above has a lot going on but it works.

  • 8 years ago

    Ellie, the picture works better than what you have now. The pieces inn your inspiration photo above have much more presence and look carefully chosen and arranged. The huge drawback to your inspiration picture is that some of the objects sit in front of the TV. That's not practical if you actually intend to watch it.

  • 8 years ago

    Evidently I need symmetry. Im

    struggling with things

    looking off balance. The picture seems to throw things off

    and

    i want the tv centered on the console.

  • 8 years ago

    Aim for balance instead of symmetry. Let me see if I can rearrange and get it closer to something that doesn't make you dizzy.

  • 8 years ago

    Your vignette starts out off balance with the ottoman to the side of the console, so achieving symmetry on the console actually doesn't balance the wall. In fact, I would move it so the whole thing, console and ottoman, were centered. I didn't do that here, but I'll move it and return so you can see. (If you're gonna use a candle holder, put candles in it, please.)


  • 8 years ago

    Now the console and ottoman are centered on the wall, and the TV is also centered on the wall rather than on the console. See if this still seems off balance to you.


  • 8 years ago

    That does look better, but I’m thinking maybe I need different pieces. It’s just not doing it.

  • 8 years ago

    I think art above the tv stand is overkill as the comsole is on the busy side already. I would probably center the tv on the console and use 3 stars....one on each side of the tv and one above.

  • 8 years ago

    I like what Grover just did. It looks balanced to me. I'd do that or center the tv and skip anything on that wall since there's stuff in the tv stand. The eye could then just bounce there and to the tv.